UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Speech and Debate Society will host a series of watch parties for the three upcoming presidential debates and the vice presidential debate.

The first watch party will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, in the Flex Theater (132 HUB). J.A. Kurr and Neema Esfandi — director of debate and president, respectively, of the Speech and Debate Society — will lead a discussion about debate expectations before the debate begins; once it ends, the two will share their reactions to the debate and invite attendees to do the same.

“With any event we do, one of our major goals is to spark conversations on campus,” Kurr said. “These events provide a great forum for students to learn about the election and is why we’re an official Voter Education Partner with the Commission on Presidential Debates.”

“These debate watches foster interest in our political system,” Esfandi added. “That is key in inspiring people to take action in their communities and their country as a whole.”

The Speech & Debate Society will host similar watch parties for the vice presidential debate on Oct. 4 and the remaining presidential debates scheduled for Oct. 9 and 19. Those three events are tentatively scheduled to take place beginning at 8:45 p.m. in 360 Willard Building. Support for the watch parties is being provided by the Penn State Department of Communication Arts & Sciences.